Altos de Chavón
The elegant, evocative, replicated 16th century Mediterranean village that towers above the Chavon River fissure is the principal cultural attraction of the La Romana region.
Created by the Casa de Campo brain trust in the early 1980s, this antique and charming village-paved not only with good intentions but, also, cobblestone (ladies, leave your high-heeled shoes home)-is a working artist's haven.
It reveals elegant architecture, charming shops, a surprising group of excellent restaurants, intimate bars, a church, an archeological museum and a university affiliated with the parson's School of Design in New York.
An Artists in Residence Program hosts painters, sculptors, writers, musicians and architects from around the world.
The village also features a 5,000-seat amphitheater which, in 1982 in its inaugural performance, featured Frank Sinatra and Carlos Santana. Since then concerts symphnies and festivals have presented Julio Iglesias, Gloria Estefan, Air Supply and the Dance Theater of Harlem.
Quite magical.